Tips to cope with flooding

Wednesday

How to cope with flooding, from hiring a contractor, cleanup, furnaces and appliances, mold and auto repair to pet care.

How to cope with flooding, from hiring a contractor, cleanup, furnaces and appliances, mold and auto repair to pet care.

FEDERAL HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS

Plymouth and Norfolk counties have been declared federal disaster areas. That means homeowners qualify for help.

To apply for assistance, register online with FEMA at Disaster Assistance.gov or call 800-621-FEMA or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing- and speech-impaired. The toll-free numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Or check out these helpful links from FEMA:

Get the water out using your own pump or one belonging to a professional pumping company, or get local fire department assistance. Pump the water as far away from the house as possible. Some local fire departments will help unclog sump pumps or will pump out flooded basements. If sewage or septic water is in the house, get a pump truck company to remove the dirty water. Check to see if your town allows septic water to be pumped back into sewers.

SALVAGE WHAT YOU CAN

Take pictures and document the damage and repair costs for insurance purposes. Anything that’s been wet for more than 72 hours should be looked at by a professional to see if it’s salvageable. Porous items, like stuffed animals and children’s toys, should be handled with caution and probably thrown away. Cardboard, drywall and carpeting submerged for more than 72 hours should be ripped out, or at least looked at by a professional. Things that can’t be thrown out, like important documents and valuable photos, may be restored by a professional document cleaning company.

Sources: FEMA; RestorePro Inc.

SAFETY FIRST

If water is rising, call your local fire department to shut off electrical and heating systems for safety. Don’t do it yourself. Have electrical appliances dried and reconditioned by a repairman. Have water-damaged gas appliances inspected and cleaned by a professional. Throw out circuit breakers and fuses that were submerged.

YARD AND GARDEN

Give the lawn time to dry out. Stay off it until the ground dries and is solid enough to support movement. If the lawn is seriously damaged, contact a local nursery or lawn care service. Clean any drainage areas and remove mud from around growing flowers or plants to ensure continued growth. Spread lime over damaged areas of lawn to encourage regrowth or prepare for reseeding. Once the ground is dry, rake and clean the yard to remove debris. This is generally a good time of year to reseed lawns. Feel free to reseed as long as the heavy rain is behind us. Heavy rain can wash away seed or cause it to rot. Prune plants and trees to remove broken limbs. You can replant small trees uprooted by flooding if there is no damage to the roots. Use stakes to keep a tree upright. Large trees that have fallen over must be removed.

Source: Quincy Adams Garden Center; gardenguides.com

PREVENTING FUTURE FLOODS

Buy a sump pump (or two), even if you don’t usually experience flooding. It’s an inexpensive way to get the water out during routine storms. In houses with serious flooding problems, shop around for weatherproofing companies. They can put in drains. Get your valuables out of the basement, or at least off the floor, where a few inches of water can ruin them.

Sources: FEMA, Weymouth fire department, RestorePro, Inc.

FLOOD TIPS FROM THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Making sure you get your money's worth on home and auto repairs after flooding.

KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE

A safe-haven room in your home; a secure carrier; and a two-week supply of pet food, medications and bottled water can make the difference between life and death for a pet during a flood, major storm or natural disaster.

DEALING WITH MOLD AFTER FLOODING

If a home has water damage from the flooding, mold could develop in as short of a time as 24 to 48 hours of water exposure and may continue to grow until steps are taken to thoroughly dry out the premises and eliminate the source of moisture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says mold can be recognized by wall and ceiling discoloration, and a musty, earthy odor.

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